Abstract: In this talk, I will explore the physics reach of coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering (CEvNS), a neutral-current process in which neutrinos scatter coherently off entire nuclei. I will briefly review its theoretical foundations and summarize the current experimental landscape, from measurements at spallation neutron sources and reactor experiments, to the recent evidence for CEvNS induced by solar 8B neutrinos in dark matter direct-detection experiments.
These developments position CEvNS as a powerful tool for precision tests of the Standard Model, enabling sensitive probes of weak interactions, neutrino properties, and new physics like non-standard interactions. I will also discuss the growing impact of CEvNS on dark matter searches, where neutrino-induced events form an irreducible background. In this regard, I will highlight how the onset of the “neutrino fog” opens new opportunities to search for physics beyond the Standard Model, extending the physics potential of current and forthcoming facilities.